Paying Out-of-Pocket

Some clients choose this option even with insurance benefits and coverage. Benefits of paying for therapy out of pocket are: 1. Client Privacy One benefit of private pay is privacy, since no third parties are involved in your care and will not have cause to access to your HFT client file. 2. No Required Diagnosis To submit claims to insurance providers, therapists must give clients a diagnosis and document medical necessity for therapeutic services to continue. Some clients do not want a diagnosis on their permanent medical record.​ Other clients may want to seek out therapy for a reason unrelated to a mental health diagnosis that is not covered by insurance, such as personal growth and development. Additionally, some clients may wish to continue therapy services beyond the point when showing medical necessity would be possible. 3. Greater Client Choice over which Therapist to Work With When using private pay, clients can choose which therapist they would like to work with, rather than which therapist accepts their insurance plan. This can open opportunities to find a therapist that feels like a good fit, or a more specific specialization, or particular type of therapy. 4. Client Autonomy Over Therapy Process Another benefit of private pay is complete client autonomy over the therapeutic process since, again, there is no involvement of the third-party interest (i.e. the insurance company). In private pay, the client and therapist decide on session frequency, length of therapy services, and what is most important to focus on. 5. Sometimes Faster and More Flexible Access When paying out of pocket for therapy, there is no need for clients to wait to hear back from their insurance provider for authorization or approval. ​ This can sometimes mean that clients can start therapy sooner or schedule more regularly without the added step.